【Source】

Volume 3 of “Discourse on Warm Diseases”.

 【Composition】

(Honey-fried)Licorice Root, Raw (unprocessed) Rehmannia Root, Raw White Peony Root, Ophiopogon Tuber, Donkey-hide Gelatin, (Fire-processed) Hemp Seed
(6)

 【Classification Group】

<Nourishing Blood>: Donkey-hide Gelatin, Raw Peony Root

<Nourishing and Moistening Yin>: Ophiopogon Tuber

<Clearing Heat and Cooling Blood>: Raw Rehmannia Root

<Tonifying Spleen and Middle Jiao>: Licorice Root

<Moistening and Purging Downward>: Hemp Seed

【Formula Interpretation】

In Zhang Zhongjing’s time, he established the 甘草湯/’>Honey-fried Licorice Decoction (i.e., Restore Pulse Decoction) to treat the pulsus intermittens caused by cold injury, which draws its yang from Ginseng, Cinnamon Twig, Ginger, and Jujube in restoring the pulse. Now, to treat those injured by warm diseases, where yang is excessive and yin is depleted, one cannot supplement yang again. Thus, from the original formula, the yang-tonifying components of Ginseng, Cinnamon Twig, Ginger, and Jujube are removed, and White Peony Root is added to gather the yin of the three yin channels, hence it is called Modified Restore Pulse Decoction. This uses an ancient method without being confined to ancient prescriptions, representing the physician’s skillful adaptation.

 【Function】

Nourishes yin, tonifies blood, and restores the pulse.

 【Efficacy】

Late stage of warm diseases, prolonged heat damaging yin, depletion of body fluids, or persistent fever, dry mouth and lips, restlessness, palpitations, and a thready, large, or intermittent pulse.

 【Indications】

Conditions such as prolonged heat damaging yin, low-grade fever, cough, delirium (due to heat toxin), and urinary calculi.

 【Mnemonics】

甘草湯/’>Honey-fried Licorice Decoction (129A Restore Pulse Decoction) + Peony Root – (Ginger, Cinnamon Twig, Ginseng, Jujube).